Planning to consider Ham Radio amendment to zoning

Ridgecrest’s Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to recommend the City Council amend a city zoning ordinance at its meeting Tuesday evening.The amendment request, should it be approved by the city council at a later date, could permit “amateur ham radio antennas and windmill towers in excess of 35 feet to be erected subject to a Conditional Use permit,” according to a city staff report.

Comment

By Jack Barnwelljbarnwell@ridgecrestca.com

Ridgecrest Daily Independent - Ridgecrest, CA

By Jack Barnwelljbarnwell@ridgecrestca.com

Posted Nov. 24, 2012 at 1:00 PM

By Jack Barnwelljbarnwell@ridgecrestca.com

Posted Nov. 24, 2012 at 1:00 PM

Ridgecrest’s Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to recommend the City Council amend a city zoning ordinance at its meeting Tuesday evening.

The amendment request, should it be approved by the city council at a later date, could permit “amateur ham radio antennas and windmill towers in excess of 35 feet to be erected subject to a Conditional Use permit,” according to a city staff report.

The agenda relates directly to a previous request by Ridgecrest resident Steven Rainey to erect a 55-foot ham radio tower on his property back in September.

Rainey could not receive a conditional use permit for his proposed tower following a public hearing. The planning commission does not have the authority to grant such permits, under the current muncipal code.

During the public hearing, Rainey said the Tower would not be up 24 hours a day, but would be lowered via a crank when not in use.

City Planner Matthew Alexander said ham radio operators represented a strong asset to the city in case of emergencies.

Should normal and mobile communication networks be knocked out during an earthquake or major flood, ham operators like Rainey would be able to relay communications through radio frequencies to other communities.

All ham radio operators are required to be licensed by the Federal Communication Commission.

The zoning amendment request would be passed to the city council to make a ruling before Rainey could apply for a permit, and would likely require a public hearing to allow Rainey’s neighbors to voice any concern.

The lone discussion item on Tuesday’s agenda will be a review of the decisions the commission has made over the last two years.

“The presentation will indicate how the commissioners have been helpful for the city,” Alexander said.

It also underscores a key point in the current commission’s tenure.

The two-year terms for all five commissioners end this year, with the new city council appointing a new commission by the end of December as required by the city’s municipal code.

Councilman Jason Patin will need to appoint a new commissioner as his current appointment, Jim Sanders, will be seated on the city council Dec. 5.

In addition, Sanders, Councilwoman-elect Lori Acton and Mayor-elect Dan Clark will all appoint their own members to be approved by the full council at some point in December.

“This will be the last meeting for three, possibly four planning commissioners,” Alexander said.

The planning commission is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 27 at 6 p.m. in City Hall’s council chamber, following a presentation and meeting of the Old Town Action Plan Committee.